Barcelona on the brink of La Liga title before El Clasico
Axios (Tổng hợp từ Al Jazeera English)
Barcelona are on the verge of winning their second consecutive La Liga title. With an 11-point lead over Real Madrid and only five matches left, Hansi Flick's side could seal the championship this week if results go their way. If Barcelona win at Osasuna on Saturday, Real Madrid must beat Espanyol away on Sunday to keep the title race alive.
Barcelona are on the verge of winning their second consecutive La Liga title. With an 11-point lead over Real Madrid and only five matches left, Hansi Flick's side could seal the championship this week if results go their way.
If Barcelona win at Osasuna on Saturday, Real Madrid must beat Espanyol away on Sunday to keep the title race alive for at least another round. If the results align, Barcelona would enter the next round's 'El Clasico' against Real Madrid as the newly crowned champions.
Barcelona's domestic form has been outstanding, winning nine league matches in a row. Their run was interrupted only by a defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, which knocked them out of Europe. However, a win at Osasuna's El Sadar Stadium will not be easy. Osasuna have lost only twice at home this season and are unbeaten in their last 10 league games at their fortress.
In contrast, Real Madrid have won just one of their last six matches across all competitions. The Spanish giants are enduring a disappointing end to the season, having sacked coach Xabi Alonso and are likely to part ways with Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the campaign. Their weekend opponents Espanyol are in even deeper crisis, without a win in 2026 — a 16-match winless run that has plunged them into relegation danger.
Barcelona have received a boost with winger Raphinha returning from a hamstring injury he suffered while playing for Brazil in March. His comeback eases the loss of Lamine Yamal, who is out for the season with a muscle injury. Coach Hansi Flick confirmed Raphinha will travel with the squad to Pamplona and could feature.
"Rapha always gives 100%, whether on the pitch or in training. His spirit and attitude are always at 100% and that helps us a lot," Flick said at his Friday press conference.
If Barcelona win all five remaining matches, they will reach 100 points, equalling the La Liga record set by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in 2012 and matched by Tito Vilanova's Barcelona in 2013. "We are only focused on the next game, but of course we want to win every match from now until the end of the season," Flick added.
